David P

I love my Dobyns Rods so I'm slightly biased. I've heard good things about the *** rods themselves, but with newer rods and companies the longevity of the company, warranty, and customer service is always a concern. Just something to think about.

Dobyns 765 or 735, but if you're going to be pitching into heavier cover and throwing frogs in thick stuff, possibly a 736.

That fish has a large mouth, but looks skinny as a rail. Given the length, even with it being so skinny, I'd still say 7. Regardless, fun to catch big fish on top water!

Haven't really posted on here much this year, lost my passion and time to fish over the past year or so.. But started getting back into it this summer so figured I'd post a few fish from the past month or so.

I use a Dobyns 805 Punch Rod, Revo Premier with 80lb braid and a 1.5oz Tungsten weight. I like all beaver type baits. Some people like more durable baits so that the hook stays in better and doesn't go through the other end, but I have noticed a decrease in hookups with the stiffer baits. Usually go through a full bag of beavers, sometimes two in a full day trip of punching, but well worth the fun! Enjoy!

That's until you try Kaenon glasses.... I used to think the SAME thing..

Height really doesn't matter when it comes to longer rods, I know kids 5'4-ish that use 8ft rods. The 7'6 is a great flipping size, I use a 7'9 and 8fter. Depending on the company a MH or H would be the way to go.

Couldn't agree more, 734 is an awesome football jig rod. I use a Dobyns 744DX the next step up, but have used both. Sorry don't know about the newer rods you listed, and just was just adding to Thaddeus's suggestion.

Wait for TW to do their sales, or their gift card sales... By far the best way to get a bunch of them at a great price - and exactly the ones you're looking for...

Depends on your price range and how heavy of cover you plan to flip. Dobyns Champion 765, 766, or 805 Or my all time favorite, Dobyns 795DX Extreme Rod !

The 735 will have a bit softer tip, but the 736 will much better fit for throwing a frog in heavy situations. I throw Snag Proof frogs exclusively, and have no trouble with the 736, and I still have a Gen 1 736 that's even slightly stiffer. The 736 is perfect. Given that you're right in Novato, you could go to a shop and test them out, but the 736 is the way to go.

734

Dobyns 795DX - It's slightly longer than your desired 7'4 range, but at 7'9 it's still great for pitching and flipping, and it's one amazing rod. Sensitive enough to throw 3/8oz jigs and still easily feel the bottom, yet still enough to flip into very heavy cover. It's slightly over the $300 price mark, but if you can get one on sale it's a great rod. If you want something slightly cheaper, the 765C Flip rod is awesome, very versatile rod. It's the rod I first started using for pitching and flipping a few years ago, and still one of my go to rods.

I could, I'd make it even a little stiffer than it already is. The tip is slightly stiff, and takes a bit of getting used to when throwing a light frog, but once you get used to it, it's perfect, and the added power really helps. The 805Punch rod is a bit stiffer and I have been enjoying that as a frog rod and doing a little experimenting as well.

Rod greatly helps in feeling bites, and the bottom structure of the lake when you're fishing bottom contact baits. It also helps fight the fish and keep them hooked when landing them. The difference in casting distance and drag from a $100 to $200 reel that I have noticed isn't THAT much to where I'd value a reel more than a rod. I fish $200-$250 reels, but if I HAD to pick, I'd always pick rods over reels.

The 735C is too light for frogging on heavy weed mats and such in my opinion, the 736 can even feel slightly soft for fishing some of the heavy junk although it's the rod I use most. The 766 is also a GREAT frog rod. The 735Savvy has even a slightly softer tip than the 735C. I'd stay away from the 735 unless you plan to fish mostly open water and sparse weed mats, nothing clumped up and thick. The 745DX also is on the light side. Also, no need to spend the big $300+ on a frog rod when sensitivity isn't really needed, unless you plan to use it for other stuff. I'd pick either the 736C or 766C. If you want an all around rod that is sensitive to use for other things, yet also a SICK frog rod, the 795DX is an awesome rod for Flipping, Punching, Frogging, Jigs, Swimbaits, etc...

Tough to compare a Champion to a GLX, and just to throw this out there, I have never used that exact loomis rod, and only a few GLXs do I have experience with. The 805 is a great rod, but the 795DX is my all time favorite, it's absolutely amazing. Take a look at it.

Chris, CXX is very available at just about every shop, tough as nails, and dirt dirt dirt cheap. It's tough to beat!

If you find yourself in the Walnut Creek area, feel free to PM me, you can test them both out and see which one you like best. It's a lot of money, so making 100% sure is always nice, but I'm quite sure you will pick the 743 after trying both.

Senkos and Ikas weigh considerably more than shaky heads and darter heads... Two very different rods are typically used. Having said that, I've got a buddy that uses his 743 for Darterheads just fine, and I personally use my 743 for Shaky Heads 1/4oz and up...but not with light wire shaky head hooks. I have the 742 and 743 and fish them both frequently. Darter heads I prefer on the 742, shaky heads I prefer on the 742. While I prefer Senkos and Ikas on the 743. If I had to just pick one, I would go 743 as I'd rather have a little more power with some baits, than feel underpowered.

Sorry I didn't see this Rolltide, but I did respond to your PM. Hope it helps!

Really? No one has mentioned Megabass Vision 110? Hands down has outfished every other rip bait I have ever thrown in just about every d**n condition. Side by side, same areas, same casts, even having a buddy throw a LC in there first before I do, Vision wins. Of course, there are always some circumstances that call for a smaller, or deeper diving ripbait, but in general, that Vision 110 is tough to beat!

704CB - I haven't used the glass, I use the regular 704CB, but EVEN THAT in my opinion is too soft for Square Bill crankbaits. It's the ULTIMATE ripbait rod, and I throw poppers on it sometimes too, but I really don't like it for square bills, especially with the thicker hooks on most square bills and the cover they're fished in. The 705 CB is a great choice for what you listed. Be careful, there's TWO, the MF and the F. Both are great rods, and just a little different. One has a slightly faster tip. Lot of that is personal preference which one you prefer. Can't go wrong with either though. The 733 Savvy is a great all around rod, and whenever you can, I would opt for the 7'3 vs 7'0 rods. The longer rods help you cast further, help move more line on the hook sets, and just allow for a bit more error when hooking the fish. This goes for the 734 vs 704 question below that as well. You'll be very happy with all the rods you listed, the 735 is my all around everything rod. Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, small swimbaits, chatterbaits, the thing does everything. You may prefer some of the techniques I listed to be thrown on the 733 or 734, but that 735 has the ability to do anything when needed. Enjoy! Please feel free to PM me with anymore questions you may have. -David ...and Brian, no worries at all man, I appreciate it. I don't get on here as much as I did before, so these threads pass me by sometimes, always easier to answer PMs!

Dobyns, you'll get the good warranty, customer service, and IMO a far better rod.

Jeez, I just got a few premiers and thought things couldn't get much better!